porta

porta [ˈpɔːtə]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) Anatomy an aperture in an organ, such as the liver, esp one providing an opening for blood vessels

[from Latin: gate, entrance]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

porta - an aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity; "the orifice into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the heart" orifice, opening vent - external opening of urinary or genital system of a lower vertebrate blastopore - the opening into the archenteron aortic orifice - the orifice from the lower left chamber of the heart to the aorta stoma - a mouth or mouthlike opening (especially one created by surgery on the surface of the body to create an opening to an internal organ) passageway, passage - a path or channel or duct through or along which something may pass; "the nasal passages" porta hepatis - opening for major blood vessels to enter and leave the liver spiracle - a breathing orifice mouth - the externally visible part of the oral cavity on the face and the system of organs surrounding the opening; "she wiped lipstick from her mouth" os - a mouth or mouthlike opening cervix uteri, uterine cervix, cervix - necklike opening to the uterus fenestra - a small opening covered with membrane (especially one in the bone between the middle and inner ear) cardia - the opening into the stomach and that part of the stomach connected to the esophagus introitus - entrance or opening to a hollow organ or tube (especially the vaginal opening); "the introitus of the vagina" external orifice, urethral orifice - the orifice through which urine is discharged pylorus - a small circular opening between the stomach and the duodenum anus - the excretory opening at the end of the alimentary canal fontanel, fontanelle, soft spot - any membranous gap between the bones of the cranium in an infant or fetus naris - any of the openings to the nasal cavities that allow air to flow through the cavities to the pharynx rima - a narrow elongated opening or fissure between two symmetrical parts